The Ghandruk Trek (sometimes also referred to as the Ghandrung Trek) is a great trekking option for those who are in Nepal for a shorter time or want to combine a relatively short trek with other activities in Nepal. The trek is typically done in 6 or 7 days.

Highlights

Trek through the beautiful rhododendron forests of the lower Annapurna Region

This is one of Nepal's best short treks, taking you through picturesque villages while offering epic Himalayan views

Visit the Gurung village of Ghandruk, with views of Annapurna and Fishtail

About this Trek

Fast facts

Duration

6 days

Max. elevation

1,940 m (Ghandruk)

Start/finish

Phedi/Tikhedhunga

Difficulty

Easy

Accommodation

Teahouse

The trailhead of the Ghandruk Trek is located in Phedi, a less than 1-hour drive from Pokhara. The trail takes you through dense rhododendron forests, paddy fields and up steep stone-slab steps through picturesque villages of the lower Annapurna region, while snowy mountains are towering over you.

The main attraction of this 3-day trek is the bustling heritage village of Ghandruk, with its a relatively prosperous Gurung population. Staying in Ghandruk is a wonderful experience, as the village has a friendly vibe to it and offers amazing views of Himalayan giants Annapurna, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare (Fishtail).

The Ghandruk trek is typically done in 3 or 4 days. Here we describe the 4-day itinerary which will give you plenty of time to stop to enjoy the scenery, chat with locals and take your time to explore the picturesque villages.

Ghandruk village

Brief Itinerary

Day

Highlights

Overnight

Day 1

Welcome to Kathmandu!

Kathmandu

Day 2

Explore Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Day 3

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Pothana (1,860 m / 6,102 feet)

Pothana

Day 4

Trek from Pothana to Ghandruk (1,940 m / 6,365 feet)

Ghandruk

Day 5

Trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul, Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Day 6

Depart Kathmandu

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!

The cityscape of Kathmandu and Boudhanath Stupa

As you fly into Kathmandu, you'll have beautiful views over the valley, the Himalaya, and of the terraced fields below. After going through customs, a representative will be waiting to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets and get you settled into your hotel. Once you've settled in, head out and visit one of Kathmandu's cultural highlights. In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.

Day 2: Explore Kathmandu

Boudhanath Stupa

Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares. There are a number of ways you can spend the day given the many incredible sights around the Kathmandu Valley. Later in the evening, head out for dinner at one of the city's great eateries, or your specialist can arrange a home-cooked dinner with a local family.

Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Pothana

Sunset over Dhampus

After an early breakfast, you'll be driven to the airport to catch your flight to Pokhara. Upon arrival, a jeep will be waiting to drive you to Phedi where the trek begins towards Pothana. The trail ascends through forests of rhododendron, magnolia, oak, sandalwood, and pine until you reach the village called Dhampus. This is an authentic Gurung village, which gives you an opportunity to look at the magnificent views of the Annapurna ranges, as well as notable peaks like Lamjung Himal.

From Dhampus, the trail continues to ascend along a stone-paved path through more forests and mossy trees (keep an eye out for orchids). Once you get to the small village of Pothana, you’ll find a range of trekker facilities including shops, teahouses, and eateries. Relax and enjoy the magnificent mountain views.

Day 4: Trek from Pothana to Ghandruk

People at a teahouse on the hill in Ghandruk

Set out for the larger Gurung village of Ghandruk. The early part of the trek is a gradual ascent for almost an hour until you get to Deurali, which passes through lush forests with splendid views of the Annapurna ranges, Manaslu, and Mardi Himal.

Leaving Deurali, you'll begin a steep trek downwards to reach Tolkha, a beautiful ethnic Gurung village. To reach the next destination, Landruk, another ethnic village, the trail is a more gradual descent passing through terraces and few settlements.

From here, continue a steeper descent that moves downwards to the Modi Khola river. You'll cross an iron bridge leading you to a steep uphill that finally reaches Ghandruk with spectacular panoramas of the Himalayas. You'll stay overnight in this trekker hub with its many lodges, eateries, and shops to stock up on sundry items. Take some time to visit the Gurung museum, a tiny exhibit in an old traditional house made of stone slabs where you can learn about the history and the local way of life.

Day 5: Trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul, Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu

A morning view of the mountains from Ghandruk

Start today with an early morning breakfast in Ghandruk and then trek past small villages and picturesque rice fields to reach Nayapul. Once you arrive, you'll meet your private jeep transfer waiting to take you back to Pokhara where you'll catch a flight back to Kathmandu.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. You can shop for souvenirs or explore the capital's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip. As for eats, here are some ideas for how to spend your last dinner in Nepal, including French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern options.

Day 6: Depart Kathmandu

Swayambhunath Temple

Time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It's good to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.

Organizing and booking through Kimkim was easy and fast. I only contacted them online 5days before my travel and it was still possible to have an amazing 4day trip on the Gandruk trek! The journey was customized to my needs and I had a wonderful guide and porter. I just had to follow them and everything was taken care of. I had a lot of time to enjoy the mountains and the beautiful villages and did not have to worry about anything. Just perfect! The tea houses we stayed in were simple, but cosy and there was all I needed. Honestly a truly amazing experience and good value for money!

What an amazing adventure! KimKim.com got us into contact with Marie Stissing from Tiger Tops. Highly recommended. Organisation was impeccable. Itinerary developed by Marie was excellent. Her services are professional and personal. We did a 3 day trek with Mr Saila, an amazing guide and the great Mr Jongkwe as our porter. Mr Mangal did an great job with guiding and advising us with all the transfers. It was like clockwork and he took great care of us. All accommodation was really good and... read more

What an amazing adventure! KimKim.com got us into contact with Marie Stissing from Tiger Tops. Highly recommended. Organisation was impeccable. Itinerary developed by Marie was excellent. Her services are professional and personal. We did a 3 day trek with Mr Saila, an amazing guide and the great Mr Jongkwe as our porter. Mr Mangal did an great job with guiding and advising us with all the transfers. It was like clockwork and he took great care of us. All accommodation was really good and very diverse. It gave us a very good opportunity to get a feel for beautiful Nepal in a very short time. Mr Laxman was a very pleasant and confident driver. We hope to come back and spend more time in Nepal. We will definitely book again with KimKim.com and TigerTops! Thank you!

Mads was so quick to suggest the great trek designed specifically for my 10 yr old daughter and I. He responded fast to any questions we had in the organisation phase too, nothing was too much bother for him.
Amanda contacted us in Kathmandu and it was lovely to meet her and Niresh (our guide) prior to commencing our adventure the next day.
Niresh was a gentle, knowledgeable guide who answered all of my silly local questions and shared so much of his knowledge and experience with us. He... read more

Mads was so quick to suggest the great trek designed specifically for my 10 yr old daughter and I. He responded fast to any questions we had in the organisation phase too, nothing was too much bother for him.
Amanda contacted us in Kathmandu and it was lovely to meet her and Niresh (our guide) prior to commencing our adventure the next day.
Niresh was a gentle, knowledgeable guide who answered all of my silly local questions and shared so much of his knowledge and experience with us. He took care of everything each day (even my daughters ravenous apetite!!) .
Receiving a special thank you gift from Amanda at HT after our adventures had finished was a beautiful surprise! And the follow up phone call the next day was great too.
We can’t wait to book another trek!! Communication and in country support was second to none x